Happy Birthday little girl whose name means beautiful in any language. You are the sweetest, kindest, best-swimmer, best artist, best sewer, best big sister, best daughter, daddy’s little girl, smartest, funniest, most-giving human on the face of the universe and you will also remain so.

Love,

Mom who will never-ever be deserving enough to be honored with your presence.

Private: word of mouth is also good. A friend of mine is offering before/after school care for students who attend Rhoads Elementary in Katy, Texas. Reply to this post with a comment and I will give you additional information. I will not publicize your contact information.

The YMCA provides before/after school care for elementary schools in the Katy ISD area.

Last year Katy ISD stopped sending flyers home in the Tuesday folders. Many parents did not know that the YMCA offered before/after care at most schools was an option.

The YMCA does not offer care at all Katy schools so please call them and check on where they offer services. The fee for before and after care is $285 for members of the YMCA and $315 for non-members.

If the fees are a little expensive for you or if like me you have more than one child than please contact the YMCA and they will charge you a fee based on family income which may end up costing you less than the fees posted. You will have to provide your tax forms and W-2s for verification.

They have a very nice roller wheeled backpack for $19.99. They are great for the price but they do not have the automatic release on the handle which I think the kids need when they are at school.

For some reason Academy does not have the wheeled $19.99 backpacks listed on the website nor are they located in the section next to the “school backpacks”. The wheeled backpack is located next to the doggie kennals in the back aisle of the store.

Academy also carries JanSport backpacks for $29.99 and up which have a one year warranty for things like a broken zipper.

Last year I purchased a really sturdy messenger backpack for my daughter at Hannah Anderson, a store located in the Galleria. The one I bought from Hannah Anderson last year held up so well that there really is no need for me to buy another backpack this year.

They really have some of the most uniquely designed backpacks and the cutest children’s clothes (see backpacks above).

They also carry matching lunchkits and pencil cases.

The lunchkits attatch to the back of the backpack. They offer free catalogs on their websites.Hannah Anderson Messenger Bag From Last Year

The kids really are required to carry too much on their backs everyday to school but that is something I need to comment on in my other blog.

My daughter wants to go to Schlitterbahn but I am afraid of the crowds and the $200 price tag entry fee for a family of four (not including gas). I really don’t want to be standing in line with a bunch of wet people after paying $45 smackeroos. I think that this little waterpark might be a happy compromise for our family.